Distracted drivers on the increase

The U.S. Department of Transportation and Consumer Reports magazine just released a poll showing that 63% of people under age 30 admit driving while using a mobile phone, and 30% admit texting while driving.

For drivers over age 30, 41% acknowledged using a mobile phone while driving, and 9% admitted texting behind the wheel.

The scariest figure of all may be that only about one third of the younger crowd said they think such behavior is dangerous! That means over 40% of U.S. drivers under age 30 are willfully ignorant or dismissive of the incredible danger inherent in distracted driving.

The Department of Transportation says nearly 5,500 people were killed in distracted driving accidents in the U.S. in 2009.

To date, 30 states have passed laws prohibiting texting or reading from a mobile device while driving. Other states and municipalities prohibit, to varying degrees, using a mobile phone while behind the wheel.  From RoadBikeRider.com newsletter Issue No. 471 - 03/10/11